Building Your Dream Pool in a Water Neutral Area: How Compass Pools makes It Possible

What is Water Neutrality?

Water neutrality means that new developments, including swimming pools, must demonstrate they will not add any additional demand to the local water supply. This requirement stems from Natural England’s September 2021 Position Statement, which aims to protect designated habitats in areas like the Arun Valley from the impacts of water abstraction under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

The affected areas include:

• Horsham District (entirety)
• Crawley District (excluding Maidenbower, Gatwick Airport, and land north of Manor Royal)
• Chichester District (North of the Plan area)
• Parts of South Downs National Park Authority

In these regions, Local Planning Authorities can refuse permission for swimming pools – even outdoor pools that typically don’t require planning permission – unless water neutrality can be demonstrated. Some councils have already removed permitted development rights for swimming pools in back gardens, meaning they could theoretically require pool removal retrospectively.

Understanding Your Legal Obligations

Before installing any pool, homeowners must notify their water supplier under the Water (Supply and Fittings) Regulations (Byelaws in Scotland) Part 2, Sub-section 5, Table Item 5, for any pool “with a capacity greater than 10,000 litres which is designed to be replenished by automatic means.”

The Challenge for Traditional Pools

Traditional concrete pools present significant challenges in water neutral areas. According to SPATA standards, water losses include:

• Shell water loss: Up to 20mm per week over the entire surface area (1,000 litres weekly for an 11m x 4m pool)
• Evaporation: Up to 5mm daily (50 litres per day from an uncovered pool)
• Bather loss: 0.75 litres per person per use (72 litres annually for a family of four using the pool weekly)
• Winterising: Lowering water level by 450mm (22,500 litres for a 10m x 5m pool)
• Filter backwashing: 417 litres weekly for proper maintenance
• Vacuuming: Additional water loss through extended backwashing

A standard concrete pool can lose up to 67,355 litres annually – equivalent to adding 1.2 people to your household’s water consumption, when the government target is just 80 litres per person per day.

Regional Rainfall Considerations

The UK’s average annual precipitation is 885mm, but this varies significantly by region:

• High rainfall areas: Glasgow (1,245mm), Oban (1,681mm), Princetown Dartmoor (1,998mm)
• Moderate rainfall: Manchester (829mm), Cardiff (1,152mm), Birmingham (681mm)
• Lower rainfall: London (592mm), Cambridge (568mm), Grimsby (588mm)

For a 10m x 5m pool, annual rainfall can provide up to 44,250 litres – 59% of the pool’s capacity in average areas, more in high-rainfall regions.

The Compass Pools Solution: Engineering for Water Efficiency

Compass Pools has developed an integrated system that not only meets water neutrality requirements but actually achieves a net water gain of 30,709 litres annually for a typical 11m x 4m pool. Here’s how:

1. Zero Shell Water Loss

Unlike concrete pools built to pre-1999 SPATA standards that lose water through their porous structure, Compass pools are engineered using advanced carbon ceramic composites in a multi-layer construction – similar to a boat hull in reverse. This completely eliminates water loss through the shell.

2. Automatic Pool Covers

Every Compass pool includes an automatic cover that eliminates evaporation when not in use. Our covers use permeable PVC or polycarbonate slats that allow rainfall to pass through, maximising water gain from precipitation – unlike traditional impermeable fabric covers that pump rainwater to waste.

3. Smart Winterising

Our filtration equipment features a winter mode with frost-stat protection that keeps water moving through pipes during cold weather, eliminating the need to drain thousands of litres for frost protection.

4. Intelligent Filter Management

The optional cloud-based filtration system monitors filter pressure and only cleans when necessary – typically once monthly using 500 litres, compared to weekly cleaning in standard systems. This also helps monitor Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels, ensuring they don’t exceed 1,000mg/l above incoming mains water.

5. Weather-Aware Water Management

Our smart system monitors weather forecasts and delays topping up the pool when rain is expected, allowing natural precipitation to maintain water levels.

6. Optimised Design Features

The overlip coping stone design reduces splash-out by 20% by deflecting waves back into the pool rather than over the sides.

Water Neutrality Strategies Beyond the Pool

To achieve true water neutrality, consider these additional measures:

Household Water Savings

• Low-flush toilet devices
• Switching from baths to showers
• Water-efficient appliances
• Grey water recycling for gardens (following BS EN 16941-1:2018 standards)

Rainwater Harvesting

• Collection tanks for pool top-up and garden irrigation
• Designed to maintain proper water hygiene
• Can offset remaining water consumption

Settlement Tanks

• Capture backwash water for settling
• Reuse settled water for pool refilling
• Reduce overall water discharge

Planning Your Water Neutral Pool

If you’re in an affected area, here’s what you need to know:

1. Water Neutrality Assessment: Calculate current household water consumption per person to establish baseline
2. Documentation: We provide detailed water neutrality statements with calculations
3. Design Considerations:
   • Minimize pool depth where safe (reducing volume)
   • Lower heating temperatures to reduce evaporation
   • Include all water-saving features in specifications
4. Professional Support: Natural England offers a Discretionary Advice Service (DAS) for complex cases

Important Considerations

• No grandfathering: Previous water-saving measures don’t count toward neutrality requirements
• Retrospective risk: Councils may challenge installations without proper documentation
• Self-certification: Watertightness testing and certification should be specified in contracts
• Water sources: Initial fills may require bowsered water with source certification

The Numbers That Matter

Water Losses – Traditional Pool (11m x 4m):

• Evaporation: 18,250 litres/year
• Shell loss: 52,000 litres/year
• Winterising: 20,000 litres/year
• Filter cleaning: 12,000 litres/year
• Total loss: 102,322 litres/year

Water Efficiency – Compass Pool (11m x 4m):

• Evaporation: 1,200 litres/year (with cover)
• Shell loss: 0 litres/year
• Winterising: 0 litres/year
• Filter cleaning: 3,000 litres/year
• Rainfall gain: 34,966 litres/year
• Net gain: 30,709 litres/year

Moving Forward with Confidence

Water neutrality requirements reflect growing environmental awareness and the need to protect precious habitats. While these regulations may seem challenging, they’re driving innovation in pool design and construction.

With Compass Pools’ engineered approach to water efficiency, you can enjoy a beautiful pool while exceeding environmental obligations. Our technology doesn’t just meet water neutrality requirements – it demonstrates that luxury and sustainability can work hand in hand.

For areas with limited water resources, we’re proving that swimming pools can be part of the solution, not the problem.

Next Steps

1. Contact us for a detailed water neutrality assessment
2. Review your local planning requirements
3. Discuss design options that maximize water efficiency
4. Prepare comprehensive documentation for planning applications

Our technical team understands both the regulatory landscape and the engineering solutions needed to navigate it successfully. We can provide the calculations, specifications, and supporting documentation required for planning approval in water neutral areas.

For more information about water neutrality requirements in your area or to discuss your pool project, please contact our expert team. We’re here to help make your pool dreams a reality while protecting our environment for future generations.